joel f



UNTTED STATES FA FFTCE.

JOEL F. KEELER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FREIGHT-CAR LOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOEL F. KEELER, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Freight-Car Locks; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front view. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a View of the interior seen from the side opposite that in Fig. l. Figs. 4;, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views which will be hereafter explained.

Like letters refer to like parts, in the several views.

The nature of my invention relates to the form and structure of the lock by means of which the key hole can be sealed up either before or after locking, being. self acting; that is, it can be locked without the use of the key, and without breaking` the seal. It is also provided with the means of being secured by a wire and lead seal, as is now done in securing` the doors of freight cars.

The lock is cheap in its construction, being made mostly of cast metal, strong, and not liable to get out of repair. It is made in the form of a hasp, and is therefore permanently attached to the car, and not liable to become lost. Tt serves the double purpose of a fastening to the sliding door of the car, and a lock. Tt can alsobe applied to any kind of door, or to any place where a padlock can be used. The lock may be made of any desired form, to suit the fancy of the maker. For railroad freight cars, l find, that the form presented in the accompanying drawings will be very convenient.

A, in Figs. l, 2 and 3, represents the case, or body of the lock.

At B, there is an elongated link or opening for the admission of a staple, by which the lock is secured to the body of the car, or to the sliding door, or to other object where used.

C, in Figs. l and 3, represents the key hole. This is covered by a plate of metal hung upon a hinge D, Figs. l, and 2, so that the plate C', can be lifted up like a door or lid, to admit the key into the lock, at the same time, it its the key hole sufficiently tight to prevent melted sealing wax from flowing into the lock.

Upon each side of the key hole are flanges or lips E, for keeping the melted wax or other substance in place, while being sealed. The body of the lock is hollow, as seen in Fig. 3, and is fitted to receive the spring F, seen also in a side view in Fig. 4. This spring consists of a thin bar of iron or steel, or other material, bent into the form seen in Fig. 3. or any other form, and when the plate, Fig. 8, that holds it in place, is removed, it can be placed in the lock, or removed at pleasure. This plate, seen in outline in Fig. 8, is held in place by a single screw, as seen at Gr, Fig. 3. The recess into which this plate falls, in the body of the lock, is seen in Fi g, 3, and is bounded by the lines H H H H.

Tn Fig. 3, I represents an opening in the under side of the lock into which the catch J, Figs. 6 and 7, passes, in the act of locking. Tn doing this, the ends F of the spring, are separated by the wedge shaped end of the catch, and fall into the depressions K, upon each side of the catch, and consequently, the catch cannot be withdrawn, without separating the springs at F F. This catch is secured to the lintel of the door, by means of the screws or bolts passing through the flanges L L in Figs. 6 and 7, the latter of which is a cross section of the lock at the opening I.

The body of the lock is provided with a conical cap M, upon the front side, Figs. l, 2 and 7, into which the head J, of the catch passes, in the act of locking.

Upon the forward end of the lock as seen at N, and upon the flange of the catch O, Figs. 2 and G, are projections, provided with a hole each, by means of which, when the lock and catch are in the position seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, a wire can be introduced, and sealed and stamped with a piece of lead, thus gi-ving additional security against opening the lock or car, clandestinely.

Fig. 5, represents the key. This has two nibs, which operate in pressing the springs apart, when opening the lock. When the key is removed, the springs resume the same position as when locked.

Vhat l claim as my improvement and de sire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The spring lock and hasp in combination with the provisions for sealing the es cutcheon as described.

J. F. KEELER.

Vitnesses W. H. BURRIDGE, HENRY VOTH. 

